I have been getting complicated migraines for 2 months and can't get in to the neurologist untill the middle of June. My symptoms include double vision memory loss trouble finding words and loss of taste on half of my tongue. I'm going insane trying to deal with the headache and nausea of a normal migraine and then the symptoms of the complicated migraine added on top. I have tried things like Topomax and Depakote in the past but they caused severe kidney stones. I'm also allergic to many abortive meds including Triptans like Imitrex and others in the same family. I take 4 oxcodone 7.5 mg. a day for chronic abdominale pain. I'm wondering if I need to stop that. I know they could be causing rebound headaches. I'm really interested in preventing the headaches. Any advice?
Anonymous Responses (11)
BRRMARS22 Apr 2011
migrains are awful, i used to get them all the time i would go into a dark room with an ice pack on my head no noise nothing. come to find out it was something really simple with me i was not drinking enough water because with the other medications it was causing dehydration. a lot of pain medications can do that, do you get dry mouth. i don't know, try drinking a glass of water at least every hour, it sounds silly but it worked wonders for me without adding any more pills to my everlasting drug list. your friend if needed amber
LaurieShay22 Apr 2011
Hey mel ander,
I can only share what has worked for my sister who gets severe migraines. She takes progesterone. She has found that the imbalance in her female hormones made her migraines worse and the progesterone helped prevent the migraines. Have you had your hormone levels checked by a gynecologist or GP?
Just some thoughts,
Laurie
22 Apr 2011
Hi Mel Ander,
I had migraines for years, the type that occur almost every day. I was on Vicodin, then Elavil, Topamax, Depakote, and Maxalt. I now have a preventative called Vivactil. I don't know the generic name but it stopped my headaches completely. I hope this info helps. Keep us posted. Cathleen
smileyhappy22 Apr 2011
Hi Mel,
I have had migraines for 30 years. I finally had to take a migraine pill. I take Axert 6.25mg. It's new. You take one capsule, if you have relief you take the second. If you don't get relief you don't take the second because it won't work. I usually only need the first. I have auras with my migraines. I'm very thankful for Axert. Hope you can take it. Take care.
Mary63200923 Apr 2011
Hi mel, I had mygraines for about 35 years, & started Immitrex shots. The time between each one got further & further in between until they disappeared. They no longer make the shots, but do pills.
I hear they don't work as fast as the shot was like in minutes., but may be worth a try...
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
Thanks Mary and Smilet, but I'm allergic to Triptans.
Mary632009
23 Apr 2011
I am so sorry to hear that! Someone else mentioned Axert that is new . I didn't look it up so don't know what it qualifies as. Wish I could help. It is such a pain in the you know where...
Anonymous Mary632009
23 Apr 2011
Lara, don't flush them! They can come back to haunt you in your drinking water...
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
Mary,
That was on whackey day, when I flushed those Oxy's, and I now know better to never flush meds, but we have a septic system, so they wont come back to haunt me, they are in the "icky tank"!!! ewwwwwwwwwwww
Thanks Mary, did the Mississip rise up to greet you???
Lara
23 Apr 2011
Hello,Mel I have have migraine headaches forever. I take foricet which helps a lot. One of my Drs started giving me topamax for fimomaliga and headaches and that has helped me better than any any thing I have ever taken. It also help with the over all body pain.
Hope this helps
Vickie
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
I'm asking this in all seriousness and not being sarcastic so please forgive me if it comes off that way. Can you guys see the detailed part of my question? I'm asking because there are a lot of answers that suggest things I mentioned I can't take. I just wanted to make sure you can see that part of my question. If you can see it and you saw all that writing and zoned out and skipped it I totally understand. I've certainly done that before. I truly appreciate your time and answers.
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
Sorry Mel, you are right I missed all the details!!!
Lara
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
No problem. I was laughing because apparently everyone did. Evidently I'm very boring. Thanks for your answer though! :-)
23 Apr 2011
Hey Mel we do get a little carried away sometimes on here. I thinks thats what gets us through the day. Your question deserves all the thouroness in the world. I personally do not know what could help you. I suggesed Axert as another member said it helped with her Migraines. I guess I didn't see the part about tripans in your comment, or just was anxious to tell you about how I got rid of mine.After about 35 years of 24 hours, 6 weeks at a time, I was willing to do anything. May I ask what your chrontic stomach pain is caused from? Maybe there is a connection. Will await your response, & please, meant no disrespect to you at all or your condition...
Anonymous 23 Apr 2011
Mary i no there was no dissrespect meant. I appreciate everyones time and the fact they answered at all. You of course included. I'm not sure what the stomach pain is from. The best guess from the doctors is nerve pain.
I'm so glad you got relief from your migraines. Hopefully there is hope for me as well. I've had them since I was 15, so that's 20 years. They usualy are bad for months at a time then ease up. I'm ready to be done once and for all. Right now it is as bad as it's ever been. I have pain about 18 hours of everyday and these weird symptoms 24 hours a day. It's driving me crazy. I can't wait for my neurologist app. in June. Of couse I know there will be tests and/or meds after that. Relief won't be immediate but at least it will be in sight!
Mary632009
24 Apr 2011
Mel, have you had your stomach checked out by a gastroenterologist? You probably need a scope done to see what could be going on. Actually opiate pain killers can be very hard on the stomach. If you're taking the pain meds for the migraine I understand, but it's a double edged sword as to what is causing what. I understand the headache. Believe me. They had me hospilatized for weeks thinking I must have a brain tumor or something. Anyway it's nice to get to know you. I wish I could be of more help. I just read an article on Web MD a couple of minutes ago about Chrontic Pain. 5 pages, but a good read. Unfortunately, they didn't have much new to say about migraines. Said they still don't know exactly what causes them. Bad & sad for you.I was lucky,& felt I got my life back even with all my other problems. I wish the best for you, & hope you can find some help. Somebody on here will have some answers.
madhatter...24 Apr 2011
Hello: hope this posts this time--I tried yesterday, and it 'disappeared' both times... My mother had severe migraines from her teens to her twenties, and, back then, they were giving her shots of ergot (sp?). I had them in my twenties, but not as bad as hers. Now, my niece has them, but really weird symptoms: one side of her body will go numb, like she is having a stoke, and she won't be able to talk! This in addition to the 'normal' side effects!
She started getting them prior to starting her period, and the docs said they would improve, once she started. But, they didn't. We know that they are brought on by stress and not getting adequate rest. All three of us females are what you would call 'worriers'... we want to make everything around us 'perfect', and when we can't it over stresses us. I don't know what meds she takes, but I will try to find out from my sister and post here.
Anonymous 25 Apr 2011
I have very similar symptoms as your neice. It's interesting that you say she got them right before her period. It is normal for people you get migraines to have them be caused by hormones, but I wonder if there is something hormonal that turns a regular migraine into a complicated one. I used to just get the regular ones untill 3 years ago during the last 5 weeks of my 4th pregnancy. That's when I started having the stroke like symptoms. I was so worried that I was having mini-strokes everyday,but I was assured by my neurologist that I wasn't. Still, they rushed me off to have an M.R.I. right after I gave birth. We were very relieved to find out everything was OK. After 5 weeks of having them everday they stopped 18 hours after I gave birth. Definetly a hormone connection there. The official term for these kind of migraines is Complicated Migraines. Tell your neice that if she doesn't already know.
madhattersbash
25 Apr 2011
Thank you, Mel... I'd really appreciate that!
When my niece got her first couple of 'complicated' migraines (I've never heard that term before you used it!), it freaked her out so badly that she started hyperventilating, and they had to rush her to the ER. A very nice young doctor there explained to her that she was NOT having a heart attack and that she would NOT die! She was just SO scared at that point. He showed her how to breathe into a brown paper bag and slow down her heart rate--and that really helped her (I really think, sometimes, that just the fact that she had to concentrate on doing this procedure took her mind off of what was happening in the moment.)
I have suggested to my sister (when my niece was much younger) that she wear a MedicAlert bracelet~~since she is unable to speak when this happens to her~~but, of course, 'Aunt Mary' was just over-reacting... :)
catsrus2 Nov 2011
I have been getting migraines since I was 18 years old... it started when I took birth control pills so I can no longer take them. It seems that I can do nothing to prevent mine. I too am allergic to all migraine medications and I refuse to take anti seizure medications because of the side effects. I take Oxycodone for other reasons, a very mild dose... the lowest I think, 5mg and once in a while I take them for a migraine with an ibuprofen. The only things I do that prevent "some" of my migraines are to not eat hot dogs, bacon lunch meats like bologna, but at the same time some hot dogs and some brands of bacon do not cause me to have a migraine. Also I totally avoid, if possible, looking directly into bright lights or red flashing traffic lights. If I am at a stop light and the red light has a strobe in it... I lower my visor and just keep an eye on where the green light it. A lot of odors cause my migraines so I can not avoid them in public...
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Thank you. I'm allergic to Triptans which Axert is. I'm glad it's working for you though. Triptans like Axert, Maxalt, Zomig,Imitrex have been a blessing for many people. I however have swelling in my face and throat. That's never a good thing. ;-)
I hope you find something to relieve those migraines. They are really painful and make it hard to cope sometimes. Lets us know if you find something. I'm sure it would benefit someone else in your situation.